“Your Majesty?”
Aaron raised an eyebrow at the sudden appearance of the Emperor.
Since the incident, his father had often visited his palace, but now that he had recovered his health to some extent, seeing his face had become rare, and he had never barged in so abruptly unless absolutely necessary.
And yet, to come at a moment like this. He was utterly bewildered.
But his bewilderment was short-lived. Upon spotting Ariella hiding behind the Emperor, the anger that had briefly subsided surged back.
“Step aside, Your Majesty! I must tear that wench’s tongue out right now!”
“I asked what is going on!”
Emperor William IV, angered by his son’s audacity in losing his temper without even recognizing his own father, raised his voice.
Aaron paused momentarily at the fierce shout that rang in his ears, but still reeling from the humiliation inflicted by Ariella, he did not lower his head and continued to speak.
“That woman dared to insult me!”
“What did she say that would make you raise your hand against a daughter of a prestigious noble family! And to a girl who was once your fiancée!”
“That’s…!”
Aaron’s lips moved as if to speak, but he stopped himself.
Thanks to Duke Bedford’s efforts, the Emperor was still unaware that he had lost his reproductive capabilities. Furthermore, if he were to explain the process of being humiliated as it happened, Ariella might retort with unnecessary words.
If she truly cared for the family, she wouldn’t do that, but after becoming a fake, her actions had been completely different from before, so one could never be sure.
Only then did he finish assessing the situation and grit his teeth.
“Speak! Why do you suddenly fall silent!”
William IV rebuked him, as if dumbfounded by his sudden silence after shouting so loudly.
The answer came from elsewhere.
“I said I could not become His Highness’s mistress.”
Identical golden eyes turned to Ariella simultaneously.
Are you crazy? Aaron mouthed, glaring at her menacingly, while the Emperor frowned in disbelief.
“…What? What in the world does that mean?”
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to become his mistress, and I replied that I could not. It is impossible both morally and realistically.”
As she elaborated, William IV’s face contorted mercilessly.
Swivel! The Emperor quickly turned his head and stared at Aaron, demanding an explanation. His gaze was so ferocious that the servants behind Aaron trembled in his stead.
“Your Majesty, it’s not like that—”
“The Crown Prince, after going through such an ordeal, still can’t come to his senses and is obsessed with women…! Taking his former fiancée’s sister as a mistress? Are you truly in your right mind!”
Aaron desperately tried to deny it, but ridiculously, the Emperor wouldn’t listen to his son’s excuses. His trust was completely shattered.
Furthermore, William IV’s feelings towards Aaron had recently reached their worst.
It wasn’t Aaron’s fault, but in any case, he had lost the Emperor’s most cherished and beloved mistress due to something related to him, so he felt animosity. Even though the Emperor pretended otherwise.
“What are you doing! Take that mindless fool to his chambers immediately!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The attendants, who had been cautiously observing the situation, hurriedly rushed forward and grabbed Aaron. Aaron repeatedly shouted, “Your Majesty! You misunderstand!” but his voice no longer reached the Emperor’s ears.
“Ariella… no, Arrie Bedford. Are you alright?”
William IV clicked his tongue in disapproval before turning his head to look down at Ariella.
Her fair cheeks were already flushed red and swollen.
Although weaker than Duke Bedford, a grown man had slapped her face with all his might, so it was a wonder that nothing was broken.
“I am fine, Your Majesty.”
“I apologize on his behalf. That fellow has been ill recently, so he is still a bit sensitive. The proposal he made to the Lady was not meant seriously.”
William IV subtly took Aaron’s side, pretending otherwise.
It was expected. He had always taken an ambiguous stance on Aaron.
The relationship between the Emperor and Aaron had never been good from the start. Aaron was trying to go down a path completely different from the Emperor, and in the first place, the child the Emperor had intended to make Crown Prince was not him.
William IV was displeased with Aaron, who had taken the Crown Prince’s seat in place of his older brother. But still, a child is a child.
He was annoyed with his second son, but he couldn’t bring himself to be hostile. After all, Aaron was his child and his heir.
“It is not fitting for Your Majesty to apologize to a mere daughter of a noble family. As Your Majesty said, His Highness was merely sensitive for a moment and made a slip of the tongue. It is not a significant matter, so please do not trouble yourself.”
As Ariella bowed deeply in agreement, the Emperor’s stiff lips relaxed slightly. Soon, a much softer voice followed.
“How can I not feel sorry? My inadequate son has made such a beautiful woman’s face like this. If there is anything you need, please tell me comfortably. I must apologize in that way, at least.”
“If that is the case… perhaps, could you spare me some of your time, Your Majesty?”
Ariella, who had been waiting for those words, raised her head sharply and requested with sparkling eyes.
William IV’s eyebrows wriggled like earthworms at the unexpected request.
“Ah, I apologize if it was an unreasonable request, Your Majesty. It is just that, if I were to return home like this, I fear I would cause my father unnecessary worry…”
The Emperor was not one to easily grant audiences to ordinary nobles. It was even more so for a noble lady without a title.
But the situation was slightly different now. He felt a bit guilty about what had just happened, and the pressure was increased by the fact that she was the daughter of Duke Bedford.
As a result, William IV, unusually, accepted the noble lady’s request for an audience.
“An unreasonable request? Not at all. It is an honor for me to have tea time with such a beautiful lady. I happen to have no other appointments this afternoon.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“No need to thank me. Now, let’s go quickly before Aaron comes running out in jealousy.”
Ariella took a step forward with the Emperor, who was pretending to be playful and making light of the situation.
During the move, William IV continued the conversation intermittently so that the journey would not be awkward.
“If I had arrived a little earlier, the Lady would not have been hurt. It is a pity.”
He clicked his tongue in regret as he looked at her swollen cheeks.
Ariella smiled brightly and shook her head.
“No, Your Majesty. You came at the right time.”
William IV thought she was being modest and was pleased, but in fact, Ariella was being utterly sincere.
The Emperor had arrived exactly on time. She had made it so.
For a brief moment, Ariella’s gaze passed over one of the attendants walking behind William IV.
After Fabian Robinson, Countess Anabel’s lover, left for overseas study abroad, a new attendant filled his vacant position.
The man, the son of a humble baronet, had taken the undeserved position of Emperor’s attendant, and he was none other than the one Ariella had bought.
There wasn’t much a rookie attendant could do. But he could find out in advance when the Emperor’s schedule was empty, and he had even succeeded in stimulating the Emperor’s paternal love, which had nothing else to do, and leading him to the Crown Prince’s palace at the right time.
The reason Ariella provoked Aaron at the right time and willingly offered her face to his hand was for that reason. That way, she could create an opportunity to talk to the Emperor.
This was the other reason for the visit that she couldn’t tell Nobert.
If I had told him, he would have worried.
Nobert would have certainly done so. He was the kind of person who even shed tears when he saw the wound on her leg.
If he knew about the plan to deliberately get hit, he might have tried to stop her.
Or he would have tried to suggest another method. A method that wouldn’t hurt, but would be much more cumbersome and complicated than now.
It was a hundred times better to proceed without telling him.
